The relationship between fear and pain
In an interview with dvm360® Kirsten Oliver, VN, DipAVN (Surgical), CVT, CCRP, CVPP, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), discussed how fear, stress, and anxiety can worsen pain perception in animals. Plus, she gives tips for spotting stress in patients.
View the video below for the entire discussion. The following is a partial transcript.
Kirsten Oliver, VN, DipAVN (Surgical), CVT, CCRP, CVPP, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation): How do we understand how [pets] perceive [pain]? Well, they give off visual clues, and by using what we call the FAS scale, which is the fear, anxiety, and stress scale, we can look at the cues that those pets are giving us as to where they are on their scale and help prevent escalation. You know, stress kicks off a variety of chemical reactions, too, which then also heighten pain, decrease healing, and set off this whole little cascade of chemical changes within the body that makes things very difficult for them.
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